Skiving-machine.



i Vfrom a thin sole.

sra ris BENJAMIN r. MAYO', or sarei/ i, ivressiici-iosnrfrs, Assienoa 'ro entran .stron MACHINERY COMPANY, NEW JERSEY.

incassa.

Specification 01"' Letters Eatent.

Ys,Kivrivefifieonlne.

parentesi aan. a, isis;

Application filed August 1G, 19150. Serial No. 577,395;

To all whom t may concern:

le it known that l, BENJAMIN F. Maro, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Essex-and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain lmprovementsin `Skivingldachinos, or which the following description, in connection not or' the same thickness throughout their extent. Moreover the iieshside loit each sole is rough and would give an unnnished ap# pearance to a shoe if it Were used Without being smoothed oli. lt is, therefore, customary to even the soles before incorporating them into shoes, this evening process serving also to smooth oli' the flesh side. Since sole leather is comparatively.,expensive it is very desirable to' limit the thickness of tliestock removed so that the maximum amount or" the leather may remain in-the sole. A difficulty is experienced, however, 'from the :tact that the diedfout soles vary greatly in thickness sotliat forexample,'if an ordinary splittingmachine were set to remove a Vskiving from a thick sole 'it might be thatv no skiving at all `Would beremoved Accordingly, one object oi' the `present invention consists in the provision with' a machine having skiving mechanism of means orcausing said mechanism to reinove a skiving from each piece of stock Ved to said machine irrespective oi the original thickness oi' said piece. `Preferably vthe thickness o'l` the skiving is predetermined and in practice a very thin skiving isremoved from the flesh sideoi1 the soleor other piece of stock. lf not enough stock has been removed by this first cut an inspec# tion of the Hesh. side Willreveal certainy areas` which have not been-.operated upon y bythe cutting member of thei ski'ving'machine. At may be that the ai'eas thus revealed will be found to be so located as not to objectionable. ln'case', hovvever, that more of the stock is desired to be removed the sole is merely fed a second time throughl the machine. vProvisionis thus made for removing successively trom different pieces of stocker `rom al given piece oi stock a plurality of skivings thetliicknessoil which is independent of the original thickness oi' said piece or pieces provided that said original thickness, Whatever itis, is uniform throughout the extent 'of the' piece ofstock. Under some circumstances it may be desirable to provide stock treating means other than afknite which hall act upon or Withl reference to the stock in accordance with its thickness at a given portion.

Accordingly another 'object of this invention consists in the provision with stock treatingmeans of a plurality of members betaeen which the stock-passes 'one of which is normally unyielding and the other'nor'- inally yielding, and means for rendering the unyielding member; yieldingV and the yielding member' unyielding. .lV ith this construction asthe piece or". stock is fed to the machine, and the yielding4 member is thereby moved to a position dependentupon the thickness of the stock,` it may be rigidly supported in said position While the other member vvhich 'Was formerly unyielding' is permitted to yield, ,vhereby the stock'treating means be vcaused to act in accordf ance with the position ofthe meinbe'rwhich is finally rigidly supported.y ln the illustrative machine the stock treatingmeans is as a knife' and the respective yield-A ing and unyielding -members asV :toed rolls havingtransversely movable bearings; and a plurality of supports are provided which may be moved into the path o'lI thebearings of one roll and out of the path oi the bearings et the other respectively at a predetermined point in the movement ofthe piece of stock. .The result is that. by causing the supports ioijthe. bearings of the rolls to be throivn respectiv ly into and out of operative positionat any-givenV time during the passage oit the stock bet-Ween the rolls, the stock treating means may be caused vto "operate in accordance iviththe thicknessiof that portion oi the stock which is then inv engagementivith said rolls. i Y Another object of the invention consists inv lic the provision with stock treating means and a plurality of transversely movable feed rolls for feeding a piece of stock to the stock treating means, one of said ro-lls being spring pressed, of means adapted for actuation during the passage of the piece of stock between the rolls foil limiting the transverse movement of one of said rolls. In the embodiment of the invention one of the feed rolls is acted upon by a comparatively heavy spring while the other is more easily movable transversely of its and means are provided for limiting this transverse movement during the passage of the piece of stock between the rolls.

Another object of the invention consists in the provision with stock treating means and mechanism operatively connected therewith and arranged to be operated during the passage of a piece of stock through the machine to set said means to reduce by a fixed amount the thickness of each piece of stock of uniform thickness passing through the machine irrespective of the o 1iginal thickness of the piece.

hese and other features of the invention including certain details of construction and combinations of parts will be described in connection with an illustrative machine and pointed ont in the claims.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is aside elevation of a machine embodying the present invention. F ig. 2 is a detail perspective showing part of the mechanism for moving the supports. Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the supports for the bearing of the upper roll. Figs. e and 5 are a detail sectional view and a detail per-i spective respectively showing the locking mechanism of the support which is illustrated in Fig. 3. 1 Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 of Fig. 1, and 7 is a plan of the machine.

The frame 1 is provided with guideways which receive the bearings of the upper feed, roll 7.V These bearings are rigidly held against tilting movement by a stem 11, which is held in a tubular bea-ring 13, said stem being urged downwardly by a spring 15, the tension of which may bevaried by means of a set-screw 17. The spring has comparatively little strength and is not essential to the operation of the machine. lt is provided merely to insure that the i upper feed roll 7 shall be returned to its lowermost position after a Sole has passed from between the rolls. The stock treating means is herein shown as a knife 19, the extent of the downward movement of the bearings for the unner roll being so limited that the lowermost portion of its surface is normally. substantially in the plane of the Y knife. The bearing 3 of the upper feed roll is formed with an incline 21, and arranged to cooperate with the incline is a support 23 herein shown yas a wedge, it being understood that when the wedge is moved into operative position, the spring is relieved and the upper feed roll is renderedv unyielding. The bearings of the lower feed roll mounted in brackets 115 which are pivoted to the frame at 117 are supported by Springs one of which is shown at 25, the upward movement of said roll being so limited that the edge of the knife is always at a distance from the upper surface of said roll, and this distance, which as will presently bie described may be varied, determines the thickness of the skiving which is removed from each piece of stock fed tothe machine.

TWith the construction thus far described and since the spring 25 is much stronger than the spring 15, if the rolls are properly rotated and a sole is introduced-between them, the upper roll will be raised. If now the wedge 23 is moved into contact with the incline 21, the upper roll will be held rigidly against further upward movement. The edge of the knife 19, will therefore contact with the forward edge of the piece of stock at a predetermined distance from its lower face and this will be true of every piece of stock fed to the machine irrespective of its original thickness.

The wedge may be actuated by any suitf At its other end the spring is fast to the A arm 33. The lever L11 is pivotally mounted on the driving shaft 43; and it is clear that if the lever is swung to the right as viewed in F ig. 1, the slide bar 27 will also be moved tothe right and the wedge 23 brought into contact with the incline 21. This movement of the lever is automatically accomplished by the following mechanism; pivoted at 14 to an upright L16 which is rigid with the frame 1 is a supporting arm 415 provided with a slot 47 and carrying rotatably mounted at its outer end` a cam 19 having f ast to it a segment gear 51.

A spring 53 is attached at one end to a pin which is fast to the arm and at the other end to a pin carried by the frame of the machine, said spring normally holding the arm 4:5 in its lowermost position which is determined by an adjustable stop 55.

Pivoted to the lever 41 at 57 is a link 59 which is provided near its opposite end with a stud G1. Frictionally connected with the shaft of the upper feed roll is a gear 63 provided with an'annular projection 65 which is adapted when the roll is raised to contact per with a projection 67 on the arm 415, so that the gears 63 and 51 cannot be forced together so as to bind. lf noiv a sole is fed to the machine the upper roll Will be raised so that the gears 63 and 51 will mesh. rlhe cam 49 Will thereby be rotated-until a stop 69 which is integral with it is brought into contact with Vthe arm 4:5 the gear 63-tliere after .slipping upon its shaft.` During 'this' movement thecam 9 contacts with the in clined end of the 'link 59 and thereby through the lever 41, the spring 35, the upright 31 and the slide bar 27 causes the wedge 23, to be moved into contact .vith the incline 21.. rlhe parts are. so constructed and arranged that the movements'indicated above are completed before the sole reaches l the knife, so that each sole fed to the inachine contacts With the knife at a predetermined distance rom the ilesh side thereof irrespective ot the original 'thickness of the sole.

In order to guard against any possibility of tilting' movement of the upper roll, a second slide bar 71 (see Fig. 7) provided With a second Wedge (not shown) is loosely connected with the .slide bar` 27 by means of a link 73, which is pivoted at 7 5 to the frame of the machine` the link being provided Withr yokes atfeacli end, Which embrace screivs 77 and 79; he Wedges are reversely arranged v and in the position shown in Fig. 7, are both inoperative.Y Y

`With the construction thus far described, the strength of the spring 25 is relied upon to hold the anis oi the iower iollv iiimiy in place during the entrance of thesole `be tween the rolls. 1n order, however, to in# sure that there shall be no transverse movement of this roll during the entrance ot the supporting member S9 and is pivoted at its by a lever 137. r

-Referring now more particularly to Fig. (l the member 89 is provided with a horizonouter end upon a stud 91 which is carried tally` extendingV portion having aY bore through which passes a rod 98. rllhisriod, which is screw threaded at .its upper portion has tast to it collars and a spiral gea-i191, the screiv threaded portion of the rodengaging a part of the trame of the-machine' indicated at 1. rlhe upper end of the a sorino 25. l a

'to be rod is provided with a smooth vportion-99 ol reduced diameter which is received in a socket in a ynut 1.01. This nut has a reduced portion which extends through `a boss 103 on the' supporting member S9 and is provided` with a screivthi'eaded bore to receive a seresY threaded rod107. Upon the upper end of this rod is swiveled a Washer 189 r-:liicli contacts with the upper end of the Holes 111 are provided in the head of the nut to facilitate turning it. ly'turning the iint 101, the tension ot the spring 25 may be varied. porting member S94 together with the Wedge Svi-3 and the bearing 5. may be raised or lowered, an adjustable'stop 113 (see Fig. 1)

being provided to limit lthe upwardr moveso the bearing and thereby to deterl ment f mine the thickness oit the skiving, Which is removed from the piece oi"- stock.

5s has been stated., the bearings for/the ,Lau lower ivhich are pivoted to the frame at 117. The bearing tor the loiver rolll which is 4at the opposite side et the machinel from that shown in lfig. 1, is similar to the bearing 5 and is likewise srpported by a` Wedge and spiral O'eai' located at the opposite side ofv the inachinefby means of a rod 125, pro-v vided at each' end with a gear 127. rllhis rod carries at one. end, a lhand Wheel l129 by which itV may convenientlybe. rotated.`

rlhe lei'er +11 is normallyheld inthe posi'- tio'n shown in' Fig. 1, by a spring 131 Which is fast at one vend to the-.lever and at theV other end to the frame oi the machine. Pivoted tothe l'oiver end oli' the lever is a link A 1213 provided with a slot 135 which receives Y c i By turning the gear 97 the sup-` roll arev supported in brackets 115V the pin 91. uponfivhich the slide bar 85 is Y pivot-ed. The lever fl-1 consequently operates to nioiietlie lower wedge 83 into operative position as soon as the-piece of stock passestr ni betr n the rolls. 'The ii'iovement of the Wedge' Se 'in the opposite direction is also accomplished bythe lever -tl in the following manner: a lever 137.*ivhichjcarries the pivot' 91, is itselil pivotally mounted' on the shaft and' carries at Vits upper end a seg-` ment ratchet 1319.

Referring noiv more particularly to Fig.V

2 a paivl 1-1-1 pivoted to the 'lever 41 at 147 haspivoted rto itat 149 a connecting rod 151 ies tothe lever 41 at 157 has aflo'iver portion n mally urged outwardly by a spring 159 (see Fig. 1) which isseated in a socket in said lever. At its upper portion the governor contacts with a pin 161 which is loosely mounted in and passes through the bracket 39, said pin being normally urged by the spring 35 and the upright 31 to hold the governor in the position shown. With this construction the pawl 1-11 is normally held in inoperative position as shown and after the introduction of a piece of stock between the rolls, remains so held until the wedge 23 comes to rest against the incline 21. At this point the upper portion of the lever @l1 moves away from the upright 31, and the loose pin 161 no longer offers resistance to the action vof the spring 159. The pawl 141 is accordingly moved into operative position, the lever 137 rocked about its pivot 43 and tl e wedge 83 moved away from supporting position whereby the lower roll is rendered yielding.

ln order that the wedge 23 may be held firmly in place and any possibility of rearward movement during the operation of the machine prevented, the mechanism illustrated in detail in Figs. 3, l and 5 is provided. A. link 163 is pivoted at one end upon the pin 61 and at the other end engages a friction device comprising an eye 165 and friction members 167 composed of felt or other suitable material which are held in contact with the link 163 by means of a screw 169. The eye 165 is part of a lever 171 which is pivoted at 173 vto a bracket 17 5, said bracket being fastened to the frame of the machine by a bolt 177. This bracket embraces the slide bar 27 and is provided with an inner inclined face 179 which is designed to cooperate with a roller 131, loosely carried yby a downwardly projecting extension 183 ofthe lever 171, the roller being located between the incline 179 and the slide bar 27. lWhen thereforein the operation of the machine, the friction link 163 is moved forward, the lever 171 is rocked slightly on its pivot to bringthe roller into the narrower portion of the space between the bar 27 and the incline 179 so that thereafter any rearward movement of the bai-.27 will immediately cause lthe roller to bind. 1n the reverse movements of the parts after the piece of stock has left the machine, the lever 171 is rocked at the opposite direction before any movement is imparted to the slide bar 27.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 7, the driving shaft 185 is provided with fast and loose pulleys 187 and 139 and with two gears, one of which is .shown at 191. The other gear is located directly beneath the intermediate gear 193, which meshes with it, said intermediate gear also meshing with a large gear 195, which is fast to the shaft of the upper feed roll. A similar large gear 197 is fast to the shaft of the lower feed roll and is driven by the gear 191. r1`he knife 19 is adjustable in and out by means of the screws 199.

The operation of the machine is as follows; Power having been applied to the pulley 137, a sole is fed to the machine with its flesh side downward. As the forward portion of the sole enters between the rolls the upper roll is moved upwardly, the gear 63 is moved into engagement with the gear 51, and the cam i9 is thereby rotated until the stop 69 con acts with the arm 45. During this movement, the cam 419 operates through the link 59 to move the lever d1 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. The lever Ll1 through the spring pulls the wedge 23 into Contact with the incline 21 and thereby holds the upper roll against any further transverse movement. At the same time the lever H11 acting through the arm 137 moves the wedge 33 to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby withdrawing the support from the bearings of the lower roll and rendering tie lower roll yielding. These movements take pla before the sole contacts with the knife. is the sole is fed forward, a skiving is removed from its flesh side, the distance between the edge of the knife and the upper roll remaining fixed, while the distance between the edge of the knife and the lower roll is permitted to vary in case the sole is not of a uniform thickness.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. i1 machine of the class described having, in combination, skiving mechanism and means operatively connected therewith and arranged to be operated during the passage of a piece of stock for setting said meehanisrn to cause it to remove a skiving from each piece of stock fed to said machine irrespective of the original thickness of said piece.

2. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, mechanism adapted to cut a skiving progressively from a piece of stock, and automatic means operatively connected therewith for setting said mechanism to remove a s ziving of predetermined thickness at the end where the cut commences from each piece of stock fed to said macliineiiies} 3ective of the original thickness of said piece.

3. ik machine of the class described having, in combina-tion, slnving mechanism and automatic means operatively connected therewith and actuated by the passage of the piece of stock for setting said mochanism to remove a skiving from each piece of stock fed to said machine irrespective of the original thickness of said piece.

4l. A machine of the class described having, in combination, skiving mechanism and means operatively connected therewith and of stock of uniform thickness irrespective of so i ing, in combination, two transversely mov- 'named roll. f Y

and means constructed and arranged to be operated between the ,time the stock iis 4seized `by the'feed-mechanism' and the timel the forward end of the stock reaches the knife for setting said feed mechanism so as to cause said knife to remove a skiving of predetermined thickness from each piece the original thickness of said piece.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, skiving mechanism and automatic means operatively connected therewith and arranged to !be actuated by the passage of a piece of stock for setting said mechanism to remove-a skiving of predetermined thickness from each piece of stock of uniform thickness fed tovsaid machine irrespective of the original thickness of said piece. j

7. A machine of the class described havable feed rolls, a spring tending to move one offsaid rolls towardthe other, stock treating means to which the stock is fed, and means Varranged to be actuated after the stock has entered between the rolls for limit-v ing the transverse movement of-said other V roll away from said first named roll.y

8. A machine of the class'describedhaving, in combination, two transversely mova-ble feed rolls, a spring tending to move onejo'f said rolls toward the other, stock treating means to which the stock is fed,

and automatic means arranged y-to be actu-V ated after the stock has entered between the rolls for limiting the transverse movement of said other roll away from said first 9. A machine of the class described having a knife, a roll arranged to contact with one side of a piece of stock, a spring acting to-move said roll toward'theplane of the knife, a stop for limiting said movement whereby the operative surface of said roll is prevented from reaching'said plane so that there is always a space between the edge of the knife and the adjacent surface of the roll; a second roll to contact with the other side of the piece movable transversely and arranged in cooperative relation with the first, a normally inoperative support for limiting the transverse movement of the secv ond-roll away from the iirst and means for moving saidsupport into operativepositio'n. 10. A machine of the class describedhavyielding.

ing roll unyielding.

ing a knife, a roll arranged to contact with one side of a piece ofy stock, a spring acting to move said rcll toward the plane of the knife, a stop for limiting said movement whereby thev operative surface of said f roll is prevented from reaching said plane so that there is always a space between the edge ofthe knife and the vadjacent surface v of the roll', a second roll to contact with the other side of the 'piece movable transversely?,

and arranged in lcooperative relation with the first, a normally inoperative support for limiting the transverse movement of the sec- `ond roll away from the iirst and automat-ic means for moving saidsupport into operative position.

ll. A machine of the class described ha'vof the roll, a second roll to contact with theV other side of the piece movable transversely and arranged in coperative relation'withj` the first, a normally inoperative support for limiting the transverse movement of the second roll away from the rst and automatic means becoming operative during the passage of the piece of stock between the rolls for moving said support into operative position. 1 y

l2. A machine of the class described havthe piece of stock, a roll normally capable of yielding with respect to said piece, ac-

tuating mechanism forsaid rolls, and means for rendering the unyielding roll yieldingr and the yielding rollunyielding. 13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, stock treating means, a roll normally unyielding with respect to ing, in combination, stock treating means, va roll normally unyielding with respect to the piece of stock, a roll normally capable of yielding with respectl to said piece, ac-

.tuating mechanism for said rolls, and automatic `means for rendering the unyielding roll yielding and the yielding roll uniis la. Anmachine of the class described hav- A of yielding 'with respect to said piece, actuatinginechanism for said rolls, and automatic means thrown jinto operation by -fpassa-ge ofthepiece of stock, for rendering the unyielding roll yielding and the yield- 15.,A machine of the class described having, in combination, stock treating means, a roll' normallyunyielding with respect to the piece ot stock, a roll normally capable ot yielding with respect to said piece, actuating mechanism for said rolls, and automatic means becoming operative upon transverse movement et one said rolls, for rendering the unyielding roll yielding` and the yieldingl roll unyieli'ling.

16. A machine the class described having, in combination, stool: treating means, a roll normally unyielding with resi ect to the piece ot stock, a. roll normally yieldingwith respect to said piece, actuating mechanism for said rolls, means for rend-.elsing` the unyicldingz roll. yielding and the yielding roll nnyieiding duringthe passage of a piece of stoel: between said rolls and automatic means becoming` operative upon the passage of the piece ot stock from between the rolls for restoring' the parts ot' themachine to their normal. positions.

l?. machine ot the class described having, in combination, stock treating means, a roll normally nnyielding with respect to the piece ot' stoclr, a roll normally yielding with respect to said piece, actuating mechanism tor said rolls, automatic means for rendering1 the unyielding r ll yielding` and the yielding roll ui'iyielding during the passage ot a piece stock between said rolls and automatic means becoming` operative upon the passage oit the piece of stoel; from between the rolls for restoring` the parts of the machine to their normal positions.

1S. A machine or the class described haying, in combination a plurality of feed rolls, means for rotating,` roll arranged in coperative in combination with aut structed and arrangedLAV operation when the rolls are by the entrance of a piece t them tor causing the to skiving 1Irom each piece irrespective o? its original'thiclness 19. Aniachine of the s ing plurality of rolls, springs normally pressing` said rolls toward each other, stock treating,` means and means for rotating said rolls to Jreed piece ot stock to said stoet: treating` means, in combination with a plurality ot supports for relievin` s springs from the transverse thrust of said rolls, and means for moving` said supports alternately into operative position.

20. A machine oiC the class described having a plurality of rolls, springs normally pressing said rolls toward each other, stock treating` means and means 'for rotating said rolls to toed piece of stoel; to said stock treating Vmoans, in combination with a plurality of supports for relieving; said springs 'from the transverse thrust oit said rolls, and automatic means for moving said supports alternately into operative position.

2l. A machine the class described havre ition therewith v i v 'f and a ltniie ing a plurality of rolls, springs normally pressing said rolls toward each other, stock treating means and meansfor rotating` said rolls to feed a piece of stock to said stool; treating` moa s, in combination with a plurality of supports for relieving said springs from the transverse thrust of said rolls, and automatic means thrown into opeation by the piece of stock for moving,` said supports alternately into operative position.

il, naciiine ot the class described hava plurality oi"I rolls, springs normally pressing said rolls toward each other, stock toward each other, in combination with a support tor the bearings of one roll which is normally in operative position to hold said bearings from movement away from the piece oit' stock, a similar support 1Cor another roll but normally out of operative position, and means for rendering the first support inoperative and tie second operative.

fr machine of the class described having' stock treating means, a plurality of rolls, means for actuating1 said rolls, bearings in vhicli .nid rolls are mounted and spring` mechanism tendingto force said bearings toward each other, in combination with a support for the bearings of one roll which is normally in operative position to hold said bearings from movement away from the piece of stock, a similar support for another roll but normally out of operative position, and automatic means for rendering the rst support inoperative and the second operative.

A machine ot the class described having' stock treating means, a plurality of rolls, means for actuating` said rolls, bearings in which said rolls are mounted and spring mechanism tending' to force said bearings toward each other, in combination with a support for the bearings of one roll which is normally in operative position to hold said bearings Jfrom movement away from the piece of stock, a. similar support for another roll but normally out of operative position, and automatic means actuated by the passage of the piece of stock between the rolls for rendering the first support inoperative and the second operative.

'treating 26. A machine having stock treating means, a plurality'of rolls, means for actuating said rolls, bearingsin which said rolls Y are mounted and spring mechanism tending to 'force sai-d bearings toward each other, in combination with a support for the bearings of one roll which is normally inoperative position to hold said bearings from` -ed against such movement, in combination "with means for withdrawing the rigid support from the latter roll and for rigidly supporting the former. y Y

28. A machine of the class described having a plurality of spring-pressed rolls, means for actuating'V the same,v and stock treating means f in cooperative relation therewitlnone of said rolls being normally capable of yielding away from the stock while the other Yis normally rigidly supported against suchniovement, in. combination with automatic `means for withdrawing tlie rigid support-from the latter roll and for rigidly supporting theI former.

29. A machine of the class described having a plurality of spring-pressed rolls, means for actuating Vthe same, and stock means in `cooperative relation Y' therewith, one of said rolls being normally capable of yielding away from the stock Ywhile the other Vis normally rigidly supported against such movement, in combination with automatic means. actuated by the passage of the piece of stock for withdrawing the rigid support from thelatter roll. and for vrigidly supporting the former.

30. A machine ofthe class described hav- .l

ing a i plurality of spring-pressed rolls, means for actuating the same, and. stock treating means in cooperativeA relation therewith, one of said rolls being normally capable of yielding away from the stock while another is normally rigidly supported against such movement, inV combination with automatic means becoming operative upon transverse movement of oneef said rolls for withdrawing the rigid support from the latter roll and for rigidly supporting the former. Y

- 31. A machine for operatingl upon leather j pieces having feedingl mechanism/ and a knife to which the stock is fed in combi-144 nation withmeans for adjusting the mech-Y' anism to ca'usefthe knife to contact with each leather .piece irrespective of its* thickness at a predetermined distance from one side and :thereafter during the passage of the piece of stock to maintain the distance between the knife and theother side constant.

32. Amachine for operating upon leather.

pieces having feeding mechanism and a knife to which the stock'is fed in combination with automatic means'for adjusting the mechanism to cause the knife to contact with each piece irrespective of its thickness at a predetermined distance from the esh side and thereafter during the passage ofthe piece of stock to maintainthe distancebetween the knife and the grain side constant. v 33. A machine operating upon leather pieces having feeding? mechanism and a knife to which the stock is. fedin combina-v tion with automatic means thrown into actuation by the leather piece for adjusting the mechanism to cause the' knife to contact with each piece irrespective of itsthickness at a predetermined distance vfrom theflesh side and thereafter during the/passage ofl the piece to maintain the distance between the knife and the grain side constant.

" 34. A machine of the class described having in combination'a plurality offeed'rolls,n

means for rotating said. rolls, a. knifein coperative relation4 therewith, a' gear connected with vone of said rollslandmeans actuated by said gear for causing'.l Vthe ma- "chine to remove a skiving from each piece xof stock fed thereto irrespective of the original-thickness of saidfpiece. Y

35. A machine ofthe class described having, in combination, a plurality of feedrolls,

means for rotating said rolls, a knife in cofies operative relation therewith, a gear connected with one of said rolls and automatic. Y

means actuated byv said Vgear for causing the machine to Aremove a 'skiving from each piece of stock fed to saidl rolls irrespective of the original thickness of said piece.

36. A machine of the class described hav- .ing,'in.combination, agplurality of feed rolls,

means for rotating said rolls, a knife in.

coperative' relationftherewith, a gear connectedV with one of said rolls and a Vcam actuated by'said gear for causing the ma-` Vchine'to remove a Askiving from each piece:

of stock fed thereto irrespectiveof the original thickness of 'said piece.V s

37. A machine ofthe class described having aplurality ofv rolls, springsiiormallyk pressing said rolls toward each other, stock treating means and means for rotating said rolls to feed apiece' of stock to vsaid* stock l treating meansgin combination witha plui'ality of wedgesvfor relieving said springs`v from the transverse thrust of saidy rolls and meansformo'ving said,wedges alter-v i 130 nately into o operative position.

- normally teudin`V 38. A machine of the class described having a plurality oi rolls, springs normally pressing` said rolls toward each other, a cutting member and means for rotating said rolls to feed a piece of stock t said cutting member, in combination with a plurality of slidable sucports for relieving said springs from the transverse thrust of said rolls, and means for moving said slidable supports alternately into operative position.

89. A machine of the class described ha"- ing stock treating means, plurality of rolls, means for actuating said rolls, bearings in which sait rolls are mounted and spring mechanism tending to Jorce said bearings toward each other, in combination with a support for the bearings ci one roll which is normally in operative position to hold said bearings from movement away from the piece ol' stock, a similar support for another roll but normally out of operative position, and means for rendering the lirst support inoperative and the second operative, said means including a movable member yieldingly connected with one oi said supports.

40. A machine oi the class described having stock treating means, a plurality of rolls, means for actuating said rolls, bearings in which said rolls are mounted and springr mechanismtending to force said bearings toward each other, in combination with a slidable wedge for the bearings of one roll which is normally in operative position to hold said bearings from movement away from the piece et stock, a similar slidable wee for another roll but normally out of operative position and means for sliding' said wedges in opposite directions.

lll. rrmachine et the class described having stock treating means, plurality or rolls, means tor actuating said rolls, bearings in .vhich said rolls are mounted and spring mechanisn tending to force said bearings toward each other, in combination with a slidable support lor the bearings oi one roll which is normally in operative position to holl said hearings from movement away from the piece of stock, similar slidable support for another roll but normally out oi operative posicion 4 and a member yieldably connected wit'i the second support for moving it into operative position, said niemeer in its movement to move said iirst support into inoperative "cosi" Ll-Q. fr machine oi the class l i ing a plurality of, feed rolls, yieldin D produce relative movement ci said rolls towaro each other, and stock treating means in coperative relation with said rolls, in combination with slide bars provided with supports lor said rolls, a lever yieldingly connected with one slide bar, a pawl through wiich the other slide bar is actuated by said lever, said pawl being normally held in inoperative position and means becoming operative during the actuation oic said lever for rendering the pawl operative..

d3. fi machine of the class described having a plurality of feed rolls, yielding means normally tendingto produce relative movement of said rolls toward each other, and stock treating means in cooperative relation with said rolls, in combination a plurality of supports for said rolls one of said supports being normally operative and the other normally inoperative, and means becoming operative upon movement of the normally inoperative support to operative position ior moving the normally operative support to inoperative position.

14. A machine oi' the class described having, in combination, a plurality oi feed rolls, means for actuating the same, stock treating means arranged in coperative relation therewith, a support for limiting the transverse movement of one of said rolls, a lever connected with said supports, a link connected withsaid lever, a cam for actuating said link, a gear iast to said cam, and a gear irictionally connected with said last named roll and arranged to mesh with the gear of said cam upon transverse movement of said roll.

lli, A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls, stock treating means arranger. in coperative relation therewith, a slide bar provided with a support for limiting the transverse movement of one o said rolls` means for moving said slide bar forward into operative position during the passage of a piece of stock between said rolls and automatic means becoming operative upon forward movement of said bar for preventing rearward movement di 'ing the passage of said piece.

dell. 'er machine oi the'class described having, in combination, a pluraliy of feed rolls, stock treating means arranged in perative relation therewith, a slide bar provided witl a support 'for limiting the transverse movement oi one oi said rolls, automatic means iter moving slide bar forward into operative position during the passage or' a piece oit stock betr-veen said rolls and automatic means secon lg operative upon forward movement of said bar for preventing rearward movement during the passage of said piece of stock between said rolls, a locking device for preventing rearward movement of said slide bar during the passage of ysaid piece, a lever for moving said slide bar, and means connecting said device and lever.

48. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls,

stock treating means arranged in coperative relation therewith, means for actuating said rolls, a support for limiting the transverse movement of one of said rolls, and means arranged to be actuated during the passage of a piece of stock between said rolls for moving said support into operative position, said means including a gear connected with one of said rolls, a rotatable cam provided with a gear arranged to mesh with said first named gear upon the entrance of a piece of stock between the feed rolls, and yielding means for holding said gears in meshduring the passage of thefpiece of stock between said rolls.

49. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls, stock treating means arranged in coperative relation therewith, means for actuating said rolls, a spring tending ,to urge one ofV said rolls toward the other, a support normally in position to relieve said spring from the thrust caused by the entrance of a piece of stock between said rolls, means for varying the tension of said spring, and means for adjusting said roll, spring and support toward and from the other roll.

50. A machine of the class described having a knife, a roll arranged to contact with one side of a piece of stock, a spring acting to move said roll toward the plane of thev knife, a stop for limiting said movement whereby the operative surface of said roll is prevented from reaching said plane so that there is always a space between the edge of the knife and the adjacent surface of the'.

roll, adjustable means for varying said space, a second roll to contact with the other side of the stock movable transversely and arranged in coperative relation Awith the first, ka normally inoperative support for limiting the transverse movement of the sec-y ond roll away from the first and means for moving said support into operative position.

51. A machine of the class described having a plurality of rolls, springs normally pressing said rolls toward each other, stock treating means, and means for rotating said rolls to feed a piece of stock to said stock treating means, in combination with a support for relieving one of said springs from the transverse thrust of one roll, and means adapted to be operated during the passage of the stock between the rolls for moving said support into operative position.

52. A machine of the class described hav-` ing a plurality of rolls, springs normally 'pressing said rolls toward each other, stock treating means, and means for rotating said rolls to feed a piecevof stock to said stock treating means, in combination with a support for relieving one ofsaid springs from the transverse thrust of one roll, and automatic means becoming operative during the passage of the stock between the rolls for moving said support into'operative position.

53. A machine of the class described hav- :i y

the piece of stock for setting said mecha-- nism to 'remove a sk-,iving from each piece fed to the machine irrespective of the original thickness as well as of the uniformity` or non-uniformity of thickness of said piece.

55. A machine for operating upon stock having in combination stock treating means and automatic mechanism operatively" connected therewith and arranged to be actuated by the piece of stock in its passage through the machine .for setting said stock treating means to reduce the thickness of each piece of stock of uniform thickness passed through the machine by a vfixed amount irrespective of the original thickness of said piece.

56. A machine forop'erating upon stock having, in combination, stock treating means and mechanism operativelyl connectedvtherewithand arranged to-be operated duringthe passage of a piece of stock through the machine to set said means to reduce by" a fixed amount the thickness of eachl pieceof stock of uniform thicknessl the original thickness of the piece.

57. In a machine for operating uponblanks of leather or the like, thecombination of a pair of feed rolls, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for reducing the thickness of the blank, a wedge device for controlling the extent of such reduction, and connections between said movable roll and said wedge device whereby bodily movement of said movable roll causes movement of saidwedge device.

58. A machine for reducing the thickness of pieces of stock by a predetermined amount having in combination a plurality of members between which each piece is gripped, an adjustable wedge for limiting the movement of one of said members away from the other, automatic means set by the leather piece for adjusting said wedge, and a one-way clutch for holding said wedge firmly in place during the reducing operation.

59. In a. machine for operating upon blanks of leather or the like, the combination of a pair of feed rolls, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for reducing the thickness of the blank, a wedge device for controlling the extent of such reduction, means for locking said wedge in adjusted position, means for automatically unlocking thesame, and connections between said movable roll and aid wedge device.

'60. A machine for reducing the thickness of pieces of stock by a fixed amount having in combination a plurality of members, one being movable toward and from the other, between which each piece is gripped, an adjustable wedge movable in one direction to increase the extent of separation permitted between said membersvand in another direction to decrease it, a bar movable with said wedge, a. one-way clutch for holding said bar in adjusted position, automatic means actuated by the piece of stock in its passage through the machine for adjusting said bar, and automaticl means for releasing said clutch as said piece leaves the machine.

61. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, a plurality of members between which the stock is pressed during the skiving operation, one of said members being movable transversely toward and from the knife, and means arranged to be operated during the passage of the stock for limiting the movement of said movable member to a distance from said knife less than the thickness of said piece of stock irrespective of said thickness.

62. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, a plurality of members between which the stock is pressed during the skiving operation, one of said members being movable transversely toward and from the knife, and automatic means for limiting the movement of said movable member to a distance from said knife less than the thickness of said piece of stock irrespective of said thickness.

63. A machine of the class described having, in combination.a a. knife, a plurality of members between which the stock is pressed during the skiving operation, one of said members being movable transversely toward and from the knife, and automatic means actuated by the passage of the piece of stock for limiting the movement of the movable member to a distance from said knife less than the thickness of said piece of stock irrespective of said thickness.

64. A machine for operating on stock having, in combination, two members between which the piece of stock is subjected to pressure, and automatic means operatively connected with one of said members and acting by the passage of said piece through said machine to set said members to cause them to exert the same pressure upon each piece of stock of uniform thickness fed between them irrespective of the original thickness of said piece.

65. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a skiving knife, feed mechanism adapted to seize the end of a piece of stock and feed it to said knife, and means constructed and arranged to be operated between the time the stock is seized by the feed mechanism and the time the forward end of the stock reaches the knife for setting said feed mechanism and the knife relatively so as to cause said knife to remove a skiving from each piece of stock presented to said feed mechanism irrespective of the original thickness of said piece.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN E. Mavo.

Witnesses FRED IV. GUIBORD, FREDERICK L. EDMoNDs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents1 Washington, D. G, 

